Vision problems are common in autistic children. But why should that be?
In a great new article, Signs of Autism, on the COVD blog, Dr. Rochelle Mozlin gives us the answer in a few powerful words:
Most people don’t realize our eyes are actually part of the brain. So it stands to reason that if someone has a neurological disorder that impacts the brain, their vision would be compromised in some way.
Dr. Mozlin’s point — that the eyes are part of the brain — is the lynchpin of so much of my work, yet this concept often seems alien to the layperson or parent who has been conditioned to think of the eye as external anatomy, perhaps involving a few muscles. Yet Vision Therapy proves Dr. Mozlin’s point again and again: change the vision, and you change the brain. Connect the dots further and you uncover the roots of many behavioral problems.
When we know neurological issues are present, we should be on high alert for vision involvement. And when we begin to see the eye as part of the brain, we recognize a powerful inroad to influencing neurology. Mark Twain may have expressed a neurological insight along the same lines when he said, “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.”
Sing it out!
April is Autism Awareness month, and you can expect to find the web packed with great new resources like Dr. Mozlin’s article. On the same topic, Robert Nurisio, COVT, recently posted on his blog this incredibly talented performance of a Billy Joel classic.
The “Piano Man” here is an irrepressible six-year-old boy (by the way, autistic). I suspect that if he ever has a lounge-playing career it will be short, as he clearly has enough talent and charisma to fill a much bigger stage. Enjoy and please feel free to share this with anybody you know who needs an extra smile today!
New webinar on vision in ASD kids
If you work with autistic kids, you’ll find a lot of valuable information in my new webinar about Vision in ASD children, starting with this free short interview with Linda Hodgdon.
A pioneer in vision therapy and developmental optometry, Dr. Lynn Hellerstein is the founder of Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, PC. For more than 40 years, she has helped thousands of children and adults improve their vision and transform their lives — at home, in the classroom and on the sports field.
- It’s Never too Late to Expand Your Vision - February 1, 2023
- It’s Never Too Late To Expand Your Vision Interview - January 27, 2023
- Dr. Hellerstein’s Featured COVD Interview - September 25, 2022
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